Quote of Note

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.

Herman Melville, novelist and poet (1819-1891)

*****

and speaking of the poor, I don't know how anyone can buy  enough decent food these days.  Every time I go to the grocery, or Sam's, I notice elevated prices since the last visit.  It is most disconcerting to me and so I really feel sorry for those who have little to no income, especially those who have a family to feed.

As you are well aware, gas prices continue to inch up. The news on TV last night said we are "marching toward" our all-time high of over $4 per gallon. Something has to give, folks, or we will all be housebound, not by snow and ice, but because we can't afford to buy gasoline.

What are you doing, if anything, to offset the high prices lately? 

Can I Blame It on Illness?

This cold virus is trying to get the best of me, but I am on top of it. I went out this afternoon to buy some Muc*nex, as well as run some other errands. After I got in the car, I realized I had drycleaning to pick up also, so I went there first. I handed over the ticket and the guy came back to the car carrying a shirt on a hangar. "It was supposed to be folded", I said. He turned, after rolling his eyes and shaking his head, and entered the shop. When he came back, he said, "We'll get it folded for you and it will be ready when you come back." 

While he was in the shop, I discovered, much to my dismay, my purse was not in the car with me; I had left it in the garage. So I drove back home to get the purse - also, once again, forgetting that I should get our joint checkbook, which I needed to buy our prescriptions. Off I went, back to the drycleaner. This time they sent out a girl to speak to me. She had some story about how the "shirt-folder" was supposed to come to work at 2pm, and maybe she'd be there by 3pm, and I could come back (yet again.) BY that time, I was getting a bit peeved. So I drove off to do my other errands. I went to the bank, got a late lunch, went to the pharmacy and the grocer and then back to the drycleaners. This time the shirt was ready and I was very pleased to discover they would not charge me for it. (I don't think I would have paid anyway.)

Here's what made me the maddest about the day:  the main reason for my going out today was to pay a bill at Kohl's. Being sick for a week  kept me from noticing the bill was coming due (or that's my story anyway) and I really need to get to the store and pay it. Because I spent so much time doing other things, I forgot to go to Kohl's today, and I'll have to go tomorrow. Add that to forgetting my purse and the other checkbook, I'm bewildered.

Good thing I'm sick and can blame it on that - I'd sure hate to think my memory is that bad!

Yesterday.....

Yesterday, we had a wonderful dinner; turkey breasts, ham, all the trimmings, pumpkin pie, apple pie and hot apple cider, brimming with cinnamon sticks and clove studded orange slices. I wasn't sure it would all get done and on the table at the time I had said it would - and it didn't. We sat down 50 minutes later. Despite the fact that I have two new wall ovens, they are small enough to prevent more than one or two items being baked at the same time. So, I baked what I could and the rest had to wait. Luckily I had fed most of them sausage biscuits on arrival, so they weren't starved.  Dinner was worth waiting for, however. And there are leftovers!! We will eat like a king and queen here for several days (although mr. kenju has never liked eating left-overs). This time he will have no choice.

Yesterday, the house was filled with our three children, two of their spouses, six grandchildren and the sights and smells of Christmas in the making. Today, they are all gone, and I am teary-eyed for no particular reason that I can pinpoint. Seasonal let-down, I guess.

Did you ever have a strong deja-vu moment?  As we gathered in the living room by the tree to open presents after dinner, memories swarmed in my mind and Christmases past flew by my eyes. The most prominent one was of my eldest grandson when he was about three; the cutest little tyke you'll ever see. He is still cute (just ask the girls) and at age 16, he is over 6'3" and still growing. And then I remembered a photo we have of that little guy with our first granddaughter (who is now 15) sitting in a living room chair, side-by-side. They adored each other when they were younger, and the girl would follow the boy all through the house, calling him  "My  (his name)." I have always enjoyed watching the grand children interact, and yesterday was no exception. Their delight on opening presents was fairly palpable - and the array of various technologies was mind-boggling!  Grandpa and I have been (mentally) left behind, no doubt. Technology is changing so rapidly that by the time we learn one, it is obsolete.

Then I remembered Christmases when my children were small; "D" in his white shirt, red tie and blue velvet shorts (age two), enthralled with his new red plush hobby horse....."S" in her pj's and robe (age 4), loving her new Fisher-Price doll house....and "A"....lying in her plastic baby carrier in the middle of  a mound of cast-off wrapping paper and ribbons, eyes wide and wondering what the heck is going on?!  (age 3 mos.)

And so, the house is quiet now and I am left with my old memories; wondering how many more years I will get to be here, making new memories. Please God....let it be a while.

Life Intrudes...

One of my neighbors died this week. She was a perfectly lovely woman of 87 years, who acted and appeared to be much younger. You would swear she was not a day over 75. She was gracious, intelligent, a wonderful artist and a very caring person. Her illness was diagnosed about six months ago, but many of us only learned of it recently. I sent a card, but I feel as though I didn't really have time to say a proper goodbye.

The last line of her obit said something like this:  Be a little kinder to and more understanding of the people you meet. She will know this, and it will make her happy. What a lovely directive; one to which we should all aspire. Rachel, I'm promising to try and do that from now on. Rest in peace, my friend.

Another friend's mother, I have just learned, had to be placed in a nursing home this week, and the future does not look good for her or her family. As I get older, and hear more often about situations like this, it gets more and more stressful. At this time in my life, I would hope for life to be almost stress-free. I have had my share of it over the years (much of it self-induced, I think.) I'm ready to have it out of my life, but I'm starting to doubt that will ever happen. The old prayer comes to mind..."God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change....."